Monday, March 11, 2013

Easter Sunday Worship Prayers - March 31


Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude
Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Christ is Risen!
People:                 He is Risen indeed!
Youth:                   Let us praise and glorify Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior forevermore. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord of all the Earth and King of every nation, we applaud Your wonderful deeds and exalt Your Name above all others. Your power has been experienced and praised by every generation. You have enhanced this planet with hope and faith through the glorious resurrection of Your Holy Son.
People:                 Great and Everlasting God of the Universe, we seek to serve You in this sacred sanctuary; we look to praise and honor You with our hearts and lives. On this Easter Day, we come to You rejoicing in the Good News, but also seeking forgiveness for our sinful ways. We look for mercy of all our foolish decisions and we plead for pardon of our past mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious Lord, Your Sovereignty extends over all our lives. You are above and beyond all that we can ever experience or know. Without Your grace, our lives are meaningless. Without Your Son, we have no salvation.
We make our confessions in the Name of Jesus, the Holy One, whose sacrifice takes away our sins. In His own words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father …THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide:                                  We can only go to Jesus for forgiveness, for He alone has the authority to restore us to God. Above all others, He has the words of eternal life. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and Lord forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung in unison): Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 O LORD, You ask us to be faithful in times of trouble. Hear us now as we pray for help and grant us relief from sickness and suffering. Enable us to hold on to hope and take courage in Your promises. In the face of fear, never forsake us. In times of isolation, be our Comforter. Help us and heal us, O Lord. Strengthen and support us, console our spirits and lighten our burdens.
People:                 Loving Lord, when we are overcome with worry or weariness, grant us peace of mind and rest for our souls. When we are anxious about our families and friends, bestow upon them wholeness and healing that will generate joy and faith in their lives. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD is our fortress of faith and the Rock of our redemption, in whom we take refuge. We pray in the power of Jesus’ Name. Amen.   (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 94)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination
Reader:                 Holy Spirit, may we continue to praise God for all that happens in these scriptures. May these resurrection stories and events draw us closer to His ways and enable us to share our faith with other people, to the glory of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have clearly called us to be here today. We have learned of Your wonderful victory over death and studied God's Everlasting Word. Bless these offerings and tithes, as we dedicate them to Your continuing work in this world. May our gifts enhance Your mission to spread the Gospel throughout our community, and all over the Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction:  (in unison)              May Christ enable us to live each day for Him alone; may the Father free us from fear and keep us in His constant care; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith, so that we may continually worship the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

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